Lakers, Cavs Not Buying Christmas Hype

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Perhaps there should have been a sign posted Thursday at the Los Angeles Lakers practice facility. It would have read: "What the Lakers say doesn't necessarily reflect the views of the NBA and its broadcast partners.''

The NBA and ABC/ESPN have gone into overdrive hyping Friday's Christmas matchup between the Lakers and Cavaliers at the Staples Center. As far as the Lakers are concerned, it might as well be the Pacers visiting.

"It's just a game that I guess people want to see,'' said Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, downplaying his duel with Cavaliers forward LeBron James (more on that later). "For us, it's just another game to go out and execute and play well.

"(Last year's Christmas game) was like a statement game for us. This year's a little bit different.''

Ah, last year. There was no talk about the Christmas affair at Staples with Boston being "just another game.'' The Lakers were still fuming about being beaten 4-2 in the 2008 Finals by the Celtics, a series that included the Lakers kicking away a 24-point lead in dropping Game 4 and the Boston Massacre of losing 131-92 in Game 6.

The Celtics came in at 27-2 last year and riding a 19-game winning streak. But the Lakers won 92-83, a key step toward going on to win the NBA title.

"We don't have the history with Cleveland that we did with Boston,'' said Lakers guard Derek Fisher. "So it just changes the dynamics of the game in that regard... (Because the teams haven't met in the playoffs) it maybe doesn't seem there's this angst and hatred with each other.''
But wait a minute. Don't the Cavaliers feature center Shaquille O'Neal, the former Lakers star who was named Finals MVP for the 2000, 2001 and 2002 Los Angeles championship runs before leaving in a 2004 blockbuster trade?

That elicited more yawning from Fisher.

"I think it was just a big deal because we hadn't won a championship since he left,'' Fisher said about O'Neal, who made Christmas returns to the Staples Center in 2004 and 2005 with Miami and also has come back to Los Angeles with Phoenix before being traded last summer to Cleveland. "So now that part is done. I just don't think the story is as exciting for everybody. I think people at times were writing about whether Kobe could do this without Shaq or whether Shaq can do this without Kobe. There are no more question marks with that.''

O'Neal won his title without Bryant with the Heat in 2006 and Bryant got his first without Shaq last season. As for Bryant's take on O'Neal making another visit to the Staples Center, it's quite evident he hasn't circled the date in red ink on the calendar on his refrigerator.

"He's been back five years now,'' Bryant said. "A little watered down.''

Well, that brings us to the main event. It's Bryant vs. James. Bryant was named MVP in 2007-08 before James wrestled the trophy away last season.

That matchup has been hurt by the fact newly acquired Lakers defensive stalwart Ron Artest will guard James rather than Bryant, and James likely won't be on Bryant until the fourth quarter. Bryant is adding nothing to the duel by saying he believes Kobe vs. the King is overhyped.

"Of course it is,'' Bryant said. "But that's the NBA hyping it. We're just a part of it, which is fine. There are players who came before us that were part of the hype machine. I think it's cool for kids growing up to watch and observe and draw viewers and things of that nature to better the game. So it's good to be part of it.''

We've got some agreement here. James also downplays the individual duel.

"It is bigger for (the media) than it is for us,'' James said. "You guys put a lot of emphasis on LeBron vs. Kobe and this Christmas Day game. It is going to be a fun game. It is two of the best teams in the league and it will be a good test for us.''

There's no doubt it's a bigger game for the Cavaliers than for the Lakers. The Lakers are 23-4 and the class of the league even though NBA bylaws have apparently been changed that lets them play twice as many games at home (Check that. The schedule has been called up and the Lakers actually will end up playing 41 at home and 41 on the road even though they've so far had 18 at home and nine on the road).

At 22-8, the Cavaliers are still trying to find their way. Their first three games of this four-game road trip included losing to a Dallas team without Dirk Nowitzki and being forced into overtime before winning at Sacramento sandwiched around an impressive win at Phoenix.

"It is going to be an exciting game against the best team in the league right now,'' O'Neal said. "It is going to be a good test for us... An important game. It is a good measuring stick.''

As for the Lakers, a game against the Cavaliers never has been a measuring stick. If they face the Lakers in the Finals next June, then that would change next Christmas.

"Yes, it's Cleveland,'' said Lakers coach Phil Jackson was asked if this feels different than last year's Christmas game. "There's not a rivalry there that has built up with a playoff series.''

Fisher said even a game at Utah earlier this month felt different than this one. If you recall, the Lakers and the Jazz hooked up last spring in an epic and landmark first-round series (That's sarcasm. The Lakers won 4-1 in a very forgettable series).

Once again, it should be stated the views of the Lakers do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA and its broadcast partners or any advertisers paying millions of dollars for commercials.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com or on Twitter @christomasson.